Retractable putting green

ABSTRACT

A golf putting device includes a flexible, elongate putting substrate. A distal target portion has a ramped portion attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongate putting substrate and contains a raised deck containing a golf hole. A substrate reel is proximally attached to the flexible, elongate putting substrate to retractably receive and to roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate. A retraction mechanism selectably rotates the substrate reel to retractably roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)to U.S. Patent Application Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/191,962entitled “RETRACTABLE PUTTING GREEN”, filed Jul. 13, 2015, the contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of art disclosed herein pertains to indoor golf puttingsurfaces, and more particularly for home-use golf putting surfaces.

2. Description of the Related Art

The current marketplace has a variety of putting greens from largeoutdoor/indoor permanent greens to smaller home/office versions. Theproblem with all of these is that these generally known putting greenseither have to be out at all times taking up space or they have to bemanually rolled/folded up after each use. Most every golfer has had oneof the standard putting greens at one time or another and nearly all ofthem end up placed on a shelf or in a closet because the golfer finds itto be inconvenient to open/close the product each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a golf putting devicethat includes a flexible, elongate putting substrate. A distal targetportion has a ramped portion attached to a distal end of the flexible,elongate putting substrate and contains a raised deck containing a golfhole. A substrate reel is proximally attached to the flexible, elongateputting substrate to retractably receive and to roll up the flexible,elongate putting substrate. A retraction mechanism selectably rotatesthe substrate reel to retractably roll up the flexible, elongate puttingsubstrate.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method ofpracticing putting of a golf ball. In one or more embodiments, themethod includes pulling a ramped target device that contains a golf holeout distally to uncoil and expose for putting practice a proximallyattached, flexible, elongate putting substrate from a reel. The methodincludes triggering a retraction mechanism to recoil the flexible,elongate putting substrate onto the reel.

These and other features are explained more fully in the embodimentsillustrated below. It should be understood that in general the featuresof one embodiment also may be used in combination with features ofanother embodiment and that the embodiments are not intended to limitthe scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in thefollowing detailed description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golf putting device in aclosed position, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side diagrammatic view of the golf putting deviceof FIG. 1 in both a retracted and extended position, according to one ormore embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top, rear isometric view of the reel and retractionmechanism of the golf putting device of FIG. 1, according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side diagrammatic view of the golf putting deviceof FIG. 1 in the extended position for putting practice, according toone or more embodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of practicing of puttingof a golf ball using a retractable golf putting device, e, according toone or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A retractable putting green device provides for a readily retractableputting surface that enables use in a consumer environment with aminimum of setup and takedown. The putting surface can be retractableinto a variety of base including a smaller travel version, largeindoor/outdoor version, and a primary version. The latter can be housedin an attractive piece of furniture for the home or office. In one ormore embodiments, a retraction force can be provided at least in part bya torsion spring mechanism that is similar to a window shade or someother version of retraction such as a power motor into a wooden piece ofdisplay furniture. Fixtures can be provided for storing putters and fordisplaying golf balls on the display furniture. This allows the golferto store/display his putter and golf balls when not using the device.

Turning to the Drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golfputting device 100 in a closed position, according to one or moreembodiments. A flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 is housed withina furniture cabinet 104 when not in use, hidden by a face plate 106 thatfits in a lower rectangular opening 108 on a front side 110 of thefurniture cabinet 104. A putter fixture 112 can be attached to thefurniture cabinet 104 to store golf putters 114. Golf ball fixtures 116such as recesses formed into a surface of the furniture cabinet 104receive golf balls 118 respectively. A distal target portion 120 (shownin phantom in an extended position) is attached behind the face plate106′ and proximally attached to the flexible, elongate putting substrate102.

To provide a convenient golf fixture 112, a base portion 121 of thefurniture cabinet 104 is attached to, but has a wider dimension than, anupper portion 123 of the furniture cabinet 104. In one or moreembodiments consistent with aspects of the present innovation, a golfputting device 100 can include no cabinet, a furniture cabinet that ismore rectoid, a more rounded shape, other aesthetic or functionalconfigurations, etc. In addition, the golf putting device 100 can occupya portion of a clothes dresser with functional drawers toward the top.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the distal target portion 120 can have a rampedportion 122 that is attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongateputting substrate 102 and containing a raised deck 124 containing avertical golf hole 126 for receiving a golf ball that has been putted upthe ramped portion 122. A lateral conduit 128 communicates with thevertical golf hole 126 to eject a received golf ball 118. In one or moreembodiments, the flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 passes underand behind a tension pulley 130 mounted transversely across a back lowerportion within a stowage compartment 132 for the distal target portion120 in the furniture cabinet 104. The flexible, elongate puttingsubstrate 102 is taken up on a substrate reel 134 that is mountedtransversely within the furniture cabinet 104 above the stowagecompartment 132.

In an exemplary embodiment, the golf putting device 100 includes a reeland retraction mechanism 135 includes a primary motor-actuatedretraction mechanism 136 that is assisted by a spring-actuatedretraction mechanism 138. Embodiments consistent with aspects of thepresent innovation can have only one of the two. In one embodiment, thespring-actuated mechanism 138 can operate like a window blind. Theprimary motor-actuated retraction mechanism 136 can include an electricmotor 140 that is geared or drive belt engagement to the substrate reel134 and powered by a retraction motor drive 142 that is in turn suppliedelectrical power from a power supply 144 enabled by a user control 146.Alternatively, a manual actuator such as a side crank 148 or a wheel 149can extend out of the furniture cabinet 104 to provide for manualturning of the substrate reel 134.

In one or more embodiments, the flexible, elongate putting substrate 102has sufficient longitudinal stiffness to extend out of the furniturecabinet 104 solely by rotating the substrate reel 134. In otherembodiments, the face plate 106 is extended to pull the substrate 102and to thereby passively turn the substrate reel 134. The flexible,elongate putting substrate 102′ (phantom) is in the extended positionwith most or all of its longitudinal length removed from the substratereel 134.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top, rear isometric view of the reel and retractionmechanism 135 of the golf putting device 100, according to one or moreembodiments. FIG. 4 illustrates a side diagrammatic view of the golfputting device 100 in the extended position for putting practice,according to one or more embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, the base of the unit can have a handle thatallows the putting green to be pulled out from the main unit. The handlewill be attached to a section of the front wood, which in turn isattached to a piece of molded plastic. The putting surface can attachover top the molded plastic and stretch a minimum of 10′ feet back tothe main-unit retraction mechanism. The molded plastic end of theputting surface can have an elevation sufficient to allow a regulationsize putting hole where the ball can drop into it and a channel in theplastic mold that allows the ball to return out the side. The puttingsurface material can be a minimum 18″ wide and thick enough to allow thematerial to unroll flat regardless of how long it has been rolled upinside the unit. The putting surface can have markers on each side ofthe material in 1-foot units. This allows the user to practice specificlength putts. The device can have aesthetic features. The device allowsgolfers of all skill levels to practice their putting anytime they want.The surface can be unrolled in seconds, the putter and balls are storedon the unit for ease of access, and when finished everything can be putback away in seconds.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 200 of practicing putting of a golf ball. Inone or more embodiments, the method 200 includes pulling a ramped targetdevice that contains a golf hole out distally to uncoil and expose forputting practice a proximally attached, flexible, elongate puttingsubstrate from a reel. Pulling the ramped target device can actuate aratcheting spring mechanism to store energy (block 202). The method 200includes triggering a retraction mechanism to recoil the flexible,elongate putting substrate onto the reel. In one or more embodiments,triggering the retraction mechanism includes at least in part anadditional retraction of the ramped target device to release a ratchetlock to enable the ratcheting spring mechanism to actuate by turning thereel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate (block 204).Alternatively or in addition, triggering the retraction mechanismincludes actuating a motor to turn the reel to recoil the flexible,elongate putting substrate (block 206).

In the above described flow chart of FIG. 5, the method may be embodiedin an automated manufacturing system that performs a series offunctional processes. In some implementations, certain steps of themethods are combined, performed simultaneously or in a different order,or perhaps omitted, without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.Thus, while the method blocks are described and illustrated in aparticular sequence, use of a specific sequence of functional processesrepresented by the blocks is not meant to imply any limitations on thedisclosure. Changes may be made with regards to the sequence ofprocesses without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Use of a particular sequence is therefore, not to be taken in a limitingsense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by theappended claims.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referentsunless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example,reference to a “colorant agent” includes two or more such agents.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the invention pertains. Although a number of methodsand materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can beused in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materialsand methods are described herein.

As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, themethods and compositions of the invention substantially reduce oreliminate the disadvantages and drawbacks associated with prior artmethods and compositions.

It should be noted that, when employed in the present disclosure, theterms “comprises,” “comprising,” and other derivatives from the rootterm “comprise” are intended to be open-ended terms that specify thepresence of any stated features, elements, integers, steps, orcomponents, and are not intended to preclude the presence or addition ofone or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components, orgroups thereof.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the inventionherein disclosed fulfill the objectives stated above, it will beappreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may bedevised by one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, it will beunderstood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and embodiments, which come within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putting device, comprising: a flexible,elongate putting substrate; a distal target portion having a rampedportion attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongate puttingsubstrate and containing a raised deck containing a golf hole; asubstrate reel proximally attached to the flexible, elongate puttingsubstrate to retractably receive and to roll up the flexible, elongateputting substrate; and a retraction mechanism to selectably rotate thesubstrate reel to retractably roll up the flexible, elongate puttingsubstrate.
 2. The golf putting device of claim 1, wherein the distaltarget portion comprises a lateral conduit to guide golf ball receivedin the golf hole out of the distal target portion.
 3. The golf puttingdevice of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a springbiased coiling mechanism.
 4. The golf putting device of claim 1, whereinthe retraction mechanism comprises a motorized coiling mechanism.
 5. Thegolf putting device of claim 1, further comprising a furniture cabinetthat houses the substrate reel and the retraction mechanism, wherein adistal face of the distal target portion comprises a drawer face that ismanually drawn from the furniture cabinet.
 6. The golf putting device ofclaim 5, further comprising a putter fixture that is attached to thefurniture cabinet to store a golf putter.
 7. The golf putting device ofclaim 5, further comprising a golf ball fixture that is one of formedinto a surface of the furniture cabinet and attached to the furniturecabinet to receive a golf ball.
 8. The golf putting device of claim 1,wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a manually actuated handle toturn the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate.
 9. Amethod of practicing putting of a golf ball, the method comprising:pulling a ramped target device that contains a golf hole out distally touncoil and expose for putting practice a proximally attached, flexible,elongate putting substrate from a reel; and triggering a retractionmechanism to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate onto thereel.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein: pulling the ramped targetdevice actuates a ratcheting spring mechanism to store energy; andtriggering the retraction mechanism comprises an additional retractionof the ramped target device to release a ratchet lock to enable theratcheting spring mechanism to actuate by turning the reel to recoil theflexible, elongate putting substrate.
 11. The method of claim 9, whereintriggering the retraction mechanism comprises actuating a motor to turnthe reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, wherein triggering the retraction mechanism comprisesmanually actuating a handle to turn the reel to recoil the flexible,elongate putting substrate.